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UPDATE: Savannah’s film office director suspended

Savannah Film Services Director Jay Self was suspended pending dismissal on Monday, according to a statement issued by city spokesman Bret Bell regarding the matter. Self is appealing the personnel action.

As this is an ongoing personnel matter, the city officials will have no further comment at this time, Bell said Wednesday morning.

Leisure Services Bureau Chief Joe Shearouse, together with employees of the Film Service Office, have assumed duties related to the ongoing Paramount Film production in Savannah.

The Savannah Film Commission, which serves as a 19-member advisory board to the film office, does not know the details of Self’s suspension, said Michael Jarema, commission chairman. A special called meeting has been scheduled for 4 p.m. today, when Shearouse is expected to give the commission a briefing on the matter, although it was unlikely too much regarding the personnel matter would be revealed, Jarema said

The suspension comes after the office announced in July that the feature film “SpongeBob SquarePants 2” will be shooting in the Savannah area this month through November.

Storefronts along Broughton Street were recently painted to resemble a seaside community in preparation for filming live action scenes for the movie.

The film office worked with 242 separate projects in 2012, spanning 715 shoot days, according to a Savannah Film Commission report. This included everything from major feature films such as “CBGB” and “Killing Winston Jones” to television shows such as “Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America” and “Royal Pains” to national advertising campaigns from the Express and Louis Vuitton.

Total economic impact to Savannah was reportedly $26 million, including $12.2 million in direct spending.

This is not the first time that the office was the center of controversy.

In August 2011, city auditors reviewed the office after Self notified an auditor that $160 had been taken from petty cash during an office move. The audit revealed, though, that as much as $500 may have been reimbursed from petty cash funds when the expenses were not eligible.

Two employees were fired, including one who charged up to $200 for computer-related equipment on a city credit card.